The countdown to re-launching our Cultural Responsiveness Organizational Self-Assessment (CROS) tool is on! We’ll be offering a variety of customized support options for domestic violence agencies. In the meantime, explore the Family Violence Appellate Project’s use of CROS to increase marginalized survivors’ access to legal services.

Erin Smith, Executive Director of the Family Violence Appellate Project, reflects on her organization’s experience with the CROS tool:

I know I speak for all of us when I say that this has been a truly enjoyable, enlightening, and productive experience with you and our fellow grantees over the last several months.

Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP)’s goal was to use research data to identify underserved communities, identify effective strategies to understand the legal needs of those communities, to evaluate the organization’s cultural responsiveness and overall effectiveness, and increase cultural competency of management and staff. One of the major accomplishments has been the increased awareness of cultural responsiveness in all aspects of their work, and a commitment to monitor how they are doing.

For the first time, FVAP compiled comprehensive demographic data about individuals reaching out for their services. Through this data, they observed a gap in services for the LGBTQI and American Indian/Native American communities. Two other major accomplishments were drafting an Outreach Action Plan to help FVAP understand which communities are underserved and have the greatest need, and how deepen connections with those communities; and drafting four program evaluation surveys to assess the effectiveness and cultural responsiveness of FVAP’s services. One challenge is how to prioritize outreach as an organization that focuses statewide.